Issy’s Corner

Isabella’s good friend, Mr. Findus, occasionally suffers from gastrointestinal distress. Like many aging cats, sometimes his bowels are sensitive. He’d be embarrassed if he knew that we were sharing this information, but from time to time loose stool or constipation makes him feel less like his normal self. When he’s down in the dumps because things aren’t moving quite right, there are a couple of easy home remedies that often do the trick to get him back to feeling right again.

Bowel troubles? Who, me?

Feeding cats and dogs a bit of pureed pumpkin on occasion can provide just the right amount of fiber and water to help renormalize the gut. When feeding pumpkin to a pet, there are a few things to remember. Either feed them canned, cooked, or reconstituted pumpkin – never feed your pet raw pumpkin. There are brands of both canned and dehydrated pumpkin available at most natural pet supply stores. However, regular canned pumpkin from the grocery store can also work as long as it does not contain any spices, additives, or sugar. Also, keep portions small. A couple tablespoons of canned pumpkin, once a day for a few days in a row is usually sufficient for an average cat suffering from soft stools.

When it comes to mild constipation in cats, dietary supplementation isn’t the only remedy. Sometimes, cats need to exercise in the form of a vigorous play session to get things moving again. So find some good toys and be ready to give your kitty something fun to chase! Integrating a regular playtime into your pet’s daily routine is always a great idea.

Most importantly, please always consult your vet if you have any concerns about treating and determining any underlying causes of diarrhea or constipation. Both can be signs of serious illness and constipation can signal intestinal obstruction, in which case home remedies are not appropriate and immediate veterinary attention is crucial. Lastly, please always make sure your pet has access to fresh, clean water.